STRENGTHFROM LOCAL ROOTS

When Justin Henshaw chose to call the newest eatery from Henshaw Companies on St. Simons Island “Ironside Coastal Georgia Café,” he couldn’t have selected a more perfect name. Justin’s goal in replacing the popular Salata franchise restaurant he initially opened in the old Burger King location on Demere Road was to create a restaurant brand with local roots and flavors that would be able to turn a much higher volume. Salata trusted Henshaw’s business acumen and released him to pursue this new locally based concept. Due to his continuing excellent relationship with the franchise, Salata is going to be one of the first national brands to pilot Henshaw’s GAGE workforce development app in Texas.

Since Henshaw was already invested in the space, the landlord also agreed to the new venture. Justin says he then faced the biggest challenge: figuring out how to convert the eatery to produce fresh menu items that would be attractive to diners at all times of day using the equipment already in place. Turning that into a high volume, fast casual format with drive thru was a mammoth lift. But, just like the namesake for the café, Justin has never been one to back down from a challenge. Thus, Ironside Coastal Café was born.

For those who may not know, “Old Ironsides” was the nickname given to the U.S.S. Constitution, one of the first battleships in the U.S. Navy. It was built not long after the birth of our nation, in the late 1700s, using the dense timber from Live oak trees felled right here on St. Simons Island at Gascoigne Bluff. The ship’s tough-as-iron reputation came not only from its sturdy oak hull’s ability to withstand cannon fire, but the fact that Old Ironsides went on to win, overcome, and survive every battle it faced, even though outgunned, outmanned, and overmatched.

Remarkably, Old Ironsides still floats in the Boston Harbor today and is in active use as a museum.

Justin says, “I saw Old Ironsides as the ultimate American underdog story and that’s what we are too, going head-to-head with nearby franchise restaurants.” When it comes to strong local roots, that’s true not only of the café’s story, the mighty Live oaks that built the legendary ship, but Justin himself. Just like the sturdy frigate, Ironside Café has its battles, with a lot of growing and learning to do, says Justin. But with the café hitting new records each day and showing a 600% increase in volume over Salata, it is currently the highest volume Henshaw Companies store by far. By serving up delicious Southern fare like biscuits and sausage gravy, shrimp & grits, sandwiches with smoked brisket, pimento cheese, and other favorites, it’s likely that Ironside Coastal Georgia Café will also endure. To see menu, hours, and conveniently order online for faster service, visit ironsidecafe.co.